CEA Youth Mentorship Program

History

The CEA Youth Mentorship Program is developed by California Education Alliance. California Education Alliance's mission is to enhance education for students by providing hands-on, community service-based learning opportunities. CEA seeks to build an alliance of parents, teachers, schools, and local industry in a united effort build communities and raise leaders for education.

Program Mission

The mission of the CEA Youth Mentorship Program is to empower and provide guidance for at-risk youth in our communities through mentoring relationships and to enable them to become productive, responsible community members.

Program Vision

CEA is committed to the development of a nationwide community-based mentoring program that will provide youths with one-on-one time and attention with a qualified mentor two to four times a month. The program envisions the cultivation of a personal mentoring relationship for every youth to acquire skills to face everyday challenges.

The Need

The lack of positive role models has a detrimental effect on youths in society, contributing to increased rates of: teen pregnancy, drug and substance abuse, adolescent depression, and eating disorder, as well as a low interest in learning and education. Here are some alarming facts about our youth:

• In 2001, more than 53,000 babies were born to teenage mothers in California¹.
• As many as one in every 33 children and one in eight adolescents may suffer from depression².
• Anorexia is the 3rd most common chronic illness among adolescents³.
• The mortality rate associated with anorexia nervosa is 12 times higher than the death rate of ALL causes of death for females 15-24 years old4.

Program Goals

The CEA Youth Mentoring Program provides guidance for youths through the development of positive mentoring relationships and empowers at-risk youths to become productive, responsible community members. The mentoring program uses adult volunteers to commit to supporting, guiding, and being a friend to a young person for a period of a year. By becoming part of the social network of adults and community members who care about the youth, the mentor can help youth develop and reach positive academic, career, and personal goals.

• Help teens make positive decisions about life
• Increase self-esteem among teens
• Provide teens with positive role models and support
• Encourage and help prepare teens for high education
• Involve teens in meaningful, productive community services

Testimonies

With the help of a mentor I learned more about leadership in eight months than I had in all the years before then. I had the opportunity not just to have leadership explained to me, but also have it demonstrated before me, and have the chance to try it out myself.

Nicholas Nolta High School Senior, 2005

Mentor Role

• Take the lead in supporting a young person through an ongoing, one-to-one relationship
• Serve as a positive role model and friend
• Build the relationship by planning and participating in activities together
• Strive for mutual respect
• Build self-esteem and motivation
• Help the mentee set goals and work toward accomplishing them

Mentor Benefits

• Personal fulfillment through contribution to community and individual
• Satisfaction in helping someone mature, progress, and achieve goals
• Training sessions and group activities
• Participation in a mentor support group
• Mileage and expenses are tax deductible
• Personal ongoing support, supervision to help the match succeed
• Mentee/mentor group activities, complimentary tickets to community events, participant recognition events

Contact CEA for more information.

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¹California Department of Health Services, Birth Rates, 2001
²CMHS, 1998
³Public Health Service's Office in Women's Health, Eating Disorders Information Sheet, 2000, 4. American Journal of Psychiatry, Vol. 152 (7), July 1995, pp 1073-1074, Sullivan, Patrick F.